Every Witch Way But Wicked (A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery) Read Online Free PDF

Aunt Tillie seemed surprised – and somewhat proud of Thistle. “You’re braver than I thought.”
    After everyone had doled copious amounts of food onto their plates, the only sounds that could be heard were the various compliments being thrown around. My mom and her sisters basked under the attention. They were all accomplished cooks – and they were constantly in competition with each other to claim the title of “best in the family”. If someone didn’t like their food, it was considered a personal attack.
    After a few minutes, Aunt Tillie fixed her attention on Brian. I had purposely picked a seat that was as far away from him as I could manage. “Who are you?”
    “Brian Kelly, ma’am,” Brian stood to extend his hand in Aunt Tillie’s direction.  She regarded it like he’d offered her a dead frog – although she probably would have liked that better.
    “The man taking over the paper?”
    Brian must have realized that Aunt Tillie wasn’t going to take the proffered hand so he retracted it and sat back down in his chair. “Yes, ma’am. I’m Bay’s boss at The Whistler.”
    “I’m sure she must be thrilled by that,” Aunt Tillie said sarcastically.
    If Brian picked up on the sarcasm, he wisely ignored it. “I have a lot of plans to improve The Whistler.”
    “Like what?” My mom bristled. “I think the paper is perfect the way it is. Bay does a wonderful job.” The women in my family are irritating, but loyal to a fault.
    “Of course she does,” Brian tried to placate my mom. “I just think the paper could be more than it is.”
    “How is that?” Marnie asked dubiously. “It’s not like this is a hotbed of crime and political corruption.”
    Brian looked confused. “I know but . . .”
    “It’s not like Bay can manufacture the news,” Twila interjected. “She can only report what’s going on in the community, and this is a very small and tight knit community that likes things the way they are.”
    “I didn’t say that it wasn’t . . .” Brian started.
    “What is it exactly that you’re saying then? How do you figure that you can change the paper in a community that doesn’t want to change?” Aunt Tillie was on the offensive. For my part, I was happy just to sit back and watch the show.
    “I just think there is more news here than anyone probably realizes,” Brian was feeling attacked. It was obvious. I didn’t blame him.
    “What news? You think we’re all hiding some dark underbelly that only you can find?” My mom was incensed.
    “No,” Brian protested.
    “You think that you somehow know this community better than Bay does – even though you haven’t been here in years?” Marnie fixed a hard stare on Brian.
    “No.”
    “You think that somehow you’re going to magically come to town and turn the paper into some big daily that is full of nothing but crime stories and petty town fights? Like a gossip rag?” Twila asked.
    “No.”
    “Then what do you think you’re going to be able to do with the paper that Bay already hasn’t?” Thistle asked irritably.
    “I don’t know,” Brian said carefully. He was treading softly at this point. The room had taken a decidedly chilly turn.
    “Then maybe you should stop talking out of your ass,” Aunt Tillie sniped.
    My mom turned on Aunt Tillie. “Don’t be rude.”
    “What? I don’t trust him,” Aunt Tillie sniffed.
    For once, we were on the same page.
     
    The rest of dinner was uncomfortable, but my mom and her sisters managed to convince the rest of the guests that the fireworks were over. I couldn’t help but notice that Aunt Tillie was shooting disgusted looks in Brian’s direction on a regular basis – even with the ever present sunglasses affixed to her round face.
    When dinner was over, my mom left two pies in the dining room for the guests, and took another two to the den located off the main entryway in the inn. We were meeting several people from the town to discuss the murder mystery